Ohio man charged after six puppies abandoned in suitcase

Toledo
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It was hardly a tough case for authorities to solve. The pups were found in a suitcase that had a luggage tag with contact information on it. Officials had to travel two whole blocks to find the alleged owner of the animals.

The puppies were found on April 4 by passers-by in a zipped up suitcase lying next to a trash can in an alley behind a Toledo business.. The pups' mother was standing next to the piece of luggage. According to the Toledo Humane Society (THS) the three male and three female pups were about four weeks old when found.

Howard Davis, 53, is facing two misdemeanor counts of abandoning animals. One count is for the mother while the second pertains to the six English bulldog puppies.

The luggage tag had not been removed from the suitcase prior to the dogs being abandoned. According to the THS, the mother matched a dog that was licensed to Davis and witnesses said that man had been trying to sell the puppies.

John Dinon, the executive director of the Toledo Humane Society, was quoted in the Washington Post saying, It's unfortunate he chose to abandon the dogs. If he had just called us and said he couldn't care for them, we would have taken them and he wouldn't have been charged with a crime.

As reported by Fox News, Davis denies abandoning the puppies and their mother. He said he gave the dogs to friends in Michigan and his suitcase had been stolen. For some strange reason, police didn't believe him and now he has to appear in court.

According to the Toledo Blade, it uncertain whether Davis will face first-degree or second-degree misdemeanor charges. First-degree animal abandonment carries a maximum punishment of six months in jail and a $1,000 fine. If he is charged with, and convicted of a second-degree misdemeanor, he is subject to a maximum sentence of 90 days in jail and a fine of $750.

From the condition of the puppies, it appeared they were not in the zipped-up suitcase very long and they are in good health. The mother was thin, although that is not unusual for a dog that is nursing puppies.

The Toledo Humane Society has taken custody of the dogs and expect they will be placed in foster homes by the end of the week.

Davis is scheduled to make his first appearance in Toledo Municipal Court tomorrow.